NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
History of Medicine Division Lecture
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Lister Hill Auditorium
NLM Building 38A
Bethesda, MD

Dear NLM Colleagues,

You are cordially invited to the next History of Medicine lecture, to be
held Tuesday, February 28, 2012, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., in Lister Hill
Auditorium.

“Shrew Taming and Other Tales of the Four Humors”

Dr. Gail Kern Paster,
Folger Shakespeare Library

William Shakespeare is widely praised for creating the most recognizable
characters in all of literature, yet he understood human behavior in the
terms available to his age–the classical theory of the four humors of
blood, phlegm, choler, and melancholy. These humors accounted for the
health and actions of male and female, young and old, rich man and poor
man. It was the darker emotions of anger and melancholy that preoccupied
Shakespeare, especially as they appeared in the madness of Ophelia and the
shrewish resistance of Katharine Minola to her female destiny of wifely
submission.

This lecture is being held in conjunction with NLM’s newest exhibit, “‘And
there’s the humor of it’ – Shakespeare and the four humors,” a display,
online exhibition, and traveling banner exhibition featuring treasures
from NLM and the Folger Shakespeare Library

All are welcome.

Sign language interpretation is provided. Individuals with disabilities
who need reasonable accommodation to participate may contact Stephen
Greenberg at 301-435-4995, e-mail greenbes@mail.nih.gov, or the Federal
Relay (1-800-877-8339).

Sponsored by
NLM’s History of Medicine Division
Jeffrey S. Reznick, PhD, Chief

Event contact:
Stephen J. Greenberg, MSLS, PhD
Coordinator of Public Services
History of Medicine Division
National Library of Medicine, NIH
301-435-4995
greenbes@mail.nih.gov